a disease of the large blood vessels
of the arms, legs, and feet. PVD may occur when major blood
vessels in these areas are blocked and do not receive enough
blood. The signs of PVD are aching pains and slow-healing leg
sores.

peritoneal dialysis:

see dialysis.

photocoagulation (FOH-toh-koh-ag-yoo-LAY-shun):

a treatment for diabetic retinopathy.
A strong beam of light (laser) is used to seal off bleeding
blood vessels in the eye and to burn away extra
blood vessels that should not have grown there.

pioglitazone (py-oh-GLIT-uh-zone):

an oral medicine used to treat type
2 diabetes. It helps insulin take glucose
from the blood into the cells for energy by making cells more
sensitive to insulin. Belongs to the class of medicines called
thiazolidinediones. (Brand name: Actos.)

polydipsia (pah-lee-DIP-see-uh):

excessive thirst; may be a sign of diabetes.
Abbreviated as PD. Usually accompanied by polyuria.

polyphagia (pah-lee-FAY-jee-ah):

excessive hunger; may be a sign of diabetes.

polyuria (pah-lee-YOOR-ee-ah):

excessive urination; may be a sign of
diabetes or uncontrolled blood glucose levels. Abbreviated as
PU. Usually accompanied by polydipsia.

post-prandial:

After a meal.

postprandial (post-PRAN-dee-ul) blood
glucose:

the blood glucose level taken 1 to 2 hours after eating.

premixed insulin:

a commercially produced combination of
two different types of insulin.
See 50/50 insulin and 70/30 insulin.

preprandial (pree-PRAN-dee-ul) blood
glucose:

the blood glucose level taken before eating.

prevalence:

the number of cats in a given group or
population who are reported to have a disease.

proinsulin (proh-IN-suh-lin):

the substance made first in the pancreas
and then broken into several pieces to become insulin.

proliferative (pro-LIH-fur-ah-tiv) retinopathy
(REH-tih-NOP-uh-thee):

a condition in which fragile new blood
vessels grow along the retina and in the
vitreous humor of the eye.

protein (PRO-teen):

1. One of the three main nutrients in
food. Foods that provide protein include meat, poultry, fish,
cheese, milk, dairy products, eggs, and dried beans. 2. Proteins
are also used in the body for cell structure, hormones
such as insulin,
and other functions.

proteinuria (PRO-tee-NOOR-ee-uh):

the presence of protein
in the urine, indicating that the kidneys
are not working properly.

Purina DM:

high protein diet cat food for diabetic
cats available from veterinarians.

PZI:

Protamine Zinc Insulin. PZI is a long acting
beef insulin that is frequently used in diabetic cats. [Insulin
Education Page]

a type of insulin that starts to lower
blood glucose within 5 to 10 minutes after injection
and has its strongest effect 30 minutes to 3 hours after injection,
depending on the type used. See aspart insulin
and lispro insulin.

rebound hyperglycemia (HY-per-gly-SEE-mee-ah):

a swing to a high level of glucose
in the blood after a low level. See Somogyi effect.
[Somogyi Education Page]

receptors:

see insulin receptors.

regular insulin:

See alsoshort-acting insulin.
On average, regular insulin starts to lower blood glucose
within 30 minutes after injection. It has its
strongest effect 2 to 5 hours after injection but keeps working
5 to 8 hours after injection. Also called R insulin.

regulatory duration:

The time spent in the target blood glucose
area (typically 100-300 mg/dl in a cat).

renal (REE-nal):

having to do with the kidneys.
A renal disease is a disease of the kidneys. Renal failure means
the kidneys have stopped working.

renal threshold (THRESH-hold) of glucose:

the blood glucose
concentration at which the kidneys start to excrete
glucose into the urine.

repaglinide (reh-PAG-lih-nide):

an oral medicine used to treat type
2 diabetes. It lowers blood glucose by
helping the pancreas make more insulin
right after meals. Belongs to the class of medicines called
meglitinides. (Brand name: Prandin.)

an oral medicine used to treat type
2 diabetes. It helps insulin take glucose
from the blood into the cells for energy by making cells more
sensitive to insulin. Belongs to the class of medicines called
thiazolidinediones. (Brand name: Avandia.)

a type of diabetes caused by another
disease or certain drugs or chemicals.

self-management:

in diabetes, the ongoing process of managing
diabetes. Includes meal planning, planned physical activity,
blood glucose monitoring, taking diabetes medicines,
handling episodes of illness and of low and high blood glucose,
managing diabetes when traveling, and more. The caretaker with
a cat with diabetes designs his or her own management treatment
plan in consultation with a veterinarian.

a container for disposal of used needles
and syringes; often made of hard plastic so that
needles cannot poke through.

shoot:

To inject a medication, such as insulin,
with a syringe.

short-acting insulin:

a type of insulin that starts to lower
blood glucose within 30 minutes after injection
and has its strongest effect 2 to 5 hours after injection. See
regular insulin.

SLGS:

abbreviation for Start Low, Go Slow. This term is used to refer to the method of treating feline diabetes where insulin is started at a low dose (1-2 U or less per day) and the dose slowly increased to bring the cat's diabetes under regulation.

sliding scale:

a set of instructions for adjusting insulin
on the basis of blood glucose
test results, meals, or activity levels.

soluble fiber:

plant substance used to slow the digestive
process. Dissolves in water.

Somogyi (suh-MOH-jee) effect,

also called rebound hyperglycemia:

when the blood glucose level
swings high following hypoglycemia. The Somogyi
effect may follow an untreated hypoglycemic episode during the
night and is caused by the release of stress hormones
that will raise the blood glucose. The rebound can last up
to 72 hours. A typical treatment is to decrease the insulin
dosage by about 25%. Consult your veterinarian if you suspect
this phenomenon. [Somogyi Education
Page]

sorbitol (SORE-bih-tall):

1.A sugar
alcohol (sweetener) with 4 calories per gram.
2. A substance produced by the body in people with diabetes
that can cause damage to the eyes and nerves.

split mixed dose:

division of a prescribed daily dose of
insulin
into two or more injections given over the course
of the day.

starch:

another name for carbohydrate,
one of the three main nutrients in food.

subcutaneous (sub-kyoo-TAY-nee-us) injection:

putting a fluid into the tissue under
the skin with a needle and syringe.

subcutaneous fluids (Sub-Q, SQ):

These are balanced
fluids in an I.V. bag (Lactated Ringers Solution, etc.) and
administered in varying amounts by inserting a needle under
the cat’s skin. Veterinarians may teach caretakers how
to give SQ fluids at home for dehydrated cats or cats with renal
failure .

sucrose:

a two-part sugar made of
glucose and fructose. Known as table
sugar or white sugar, it is found naturally in sugar cane and
in beets.

sugar:

1. A class of carbohydrates
with a sweet taste; includes glucose, fructose,
and sucrose.
2. A term used to refer to blood glucose, ie "blood
sugar levels" instead of "blood glucose levels".

sugar alcohols:

sweeteners that produce a smaller rise
in blood glucose
than other carbohydrates. Their calorie
content is about 2 calories per gram. Includes
erythritol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, isomalt, lactitol,
maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, and xylitol.
Also known as polyols (PAH-lee-alls.)

sugar diabetes:

former term for diabetes mellitus.

sulfonylurea (sul-fuh-NIL-yur-ee-uh):

Sulfonylurea antidiabetic agents (also known
as sulfonylureas) are used to treat a certain type of diabetes mellitus
called non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM). In NIDDM, insulin
is still being produced by the pancreas. Sometimes the amount of
insulin produced may not be enough or the cat’s body may not
be using the insulin properly. Sulfonylureas work by causing the
pancreas to release more insulin into the blood stream. Sometimes
insulin that is being produced is not able to help sugar get inside
the body's cells. Sulfonylureas help insulin get into the cells
where it can work properly to lower blood sugar.

syndrome x:

see insulin resistance
and metabolic syndrome.

syringe (suh-RINJ):

a device used to inject medications or other
liquids into body tissues. The syringe for insulin
has a hollow plastic tube with a plunger inside and a needle on
the end.

the storage form of fat
in the body. High triglyceride levels may occur when diabetes
is out of control.

type 1 diabetes:

a condition characterized by high blood
glucose levels caused by a total lack of insulin.
Occurs when the body's immune system attacks the
insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas
and destroys them. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin.
Type 1 diabetes develops most often in young people but can
appear in adults.

type 2 diabetes:

a condition characterized by high blood
glucose levels caused by either a lack of insulin or the body's
inability to use insulin efficiently. Type 2 diabetes develops
most often in middle-aged and older adults but can appear in
young people.